Town Planner

Job description

Overview of Role

We are seeking an experienced Town Planner to join our Planning team in our Cambridge office. The successful candidate will have strong planning knowledge, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a keen eye for detail. You will be responsible for managing a varied portfolio of projects, preparing and submitting planning applications, and liaising with clients, local authorities and other stakeholders. Working within a supportive and collaborative team, you will have opportunities to further develop your expertise and progress your career through ongoing training and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Prepare planning appraisals for land, buildings, and development proposals.
• Undertake planning policy research, site assessments, and analysis to support project delivery.
• Prepare and submit pre-application enquiries, planning applications, and planning appeals, including the drafting of supporting statements.
• Contribute to the preparation and review of Design and Access Statements, Sustainability Statements, and other supporting documentation.
• Manage a varied portfolio of projects, ensuring delivery to agreed timescales and budgets.
• Liaise and negotiate with local planning authorities, consultees, stakeholders, and third parties throughout the planning process.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, and industry contacts.
• Attend and present at client meetings, public consultations, Parish Council meetings, and Planning Committees as required.
• Develop innovative and practical planning strategies to achieve successful outcomes for clients.
• Prepare high-quality reports, interpreting technical information and providing clear recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with planning legislation, policy, and best practice guidance.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of planning policy, market trends, and the wider regulatory environment.

Requirements

• MRTPI qualified (or working towards chartership with significant relevant experience).
• Proven experience within a planning consultancy, local authority, or comparable planning environment.
• Strong knowledge of the UK town planning system, planning policy, and development management processes.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities effectively.
• Commercial awareness and experience of client-facing work.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and relevant planning research tools.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel as required.

Finding the right people is important to us and transferrable skills are always welcome.  We value potential and are open to candidates who may not have every listed skill.

Our Benefits

• A holiday scheme starting at 25 days holiday increasing by 1 day each year to 28 days after three years of service
• Life Assurance of four times your basic salary
• Private Medical Cover including Westfield Health cashplan (After passed probationary period)
• Travel Insurance (After passed probationary period)
• Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, adoption and shared parental leave benefits
• Holiday Buy Back Scheme
• Long Service Awards
• One Volunteering Day for your chosen charity each year.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and do not tolerate discriminatory behaviour of any kind, in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Core working hours are Monday – Friday 9.00am – 17.30pm.

This is a permanent full-time position based on 37.5 hours (Monday – Friday) however we’re fully open to discussing part-time smart working requirements. We also operate a ‘Smart Working’ policy, enabling our employees to enjoy a work/life balance.

Important Notice to Recruitment Agencies

Brown&Co does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles from recruitment agencies. We will only pay agency fees where a signed Terms of Business agreement is in place, and the agency has been formally instructed by our HR team.

Any CVs submitted to Brown&Co - including to employees or Partners - without prior HR authorisation will be considered unsolicited, and no fees will be payable.